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EVALUATION OF ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF GRASSLANDS
Abstract
The article presents a novel approach to the evaluation of the economic potential of grasslands. The economic potential of grasslands is evaluated by assessing the heat energy potential of grass (both in energy and monetary terms), based on two products пїЅ methane (biogas) and grass pellets. This approach provides an alternative to the assessment of the economic potential of grasslands, and it is specially intended for situations when grasslands are unmanaged due to low demand for grass biomass as a fodder. The estimated economic potential of grasslands reflects a theoretical potential that could be achieved in case of perfectly efficient technologies. The approach has been applied for estimating the economic potential of grasslands in two municipalities of Latvia. According to the results of the practical calculations, the grassland potential is quite high: the heat energy potential of grass per hectare is comparable to the average heat and electric energy consumption of a household in Latvia. The transformation of grass into pellets provides higher economic potential of grasslands than in the case of its conversion into methane. The results of the practical estimates imply that it is necessary to develop more efficient technologies to utilize the economic potential of grasslands better.
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References13
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